Fandangle a family tradition for many in Albany

Ronald W. Erdrich/Reporter-News
Young cast members watch cowboys ride across the grass of the Prairie Theatre during rehearsal for last year's Fort Griffin Fandangle. The musical recounts the history of nearby Fort Griffin and is performed by Albany residents.

Abilene Reporter-News

Joy Lewis/Reporter-News
Gracie Price (left) and Leddie Leech (right) sing along with Gaye Davis at the June 7rehearsal for Albany's Fort Griffin Fandangle.

Ronald W. Erdrich/Reporter-News
Hunter Weir, 13, carries a saddle to a horse backstage at last year's performance of the Fort Griffin Fandangle in Albany. Generations of Albany families have performed in the musical, which tells the story of their community.

Abilene Reporter-News

Ronald W. Erdrich/Reporter-News
Longhorn cattle from the official state herd charge onto the meadow stage of the Prairie Theatre during the Fort Griffin Fandangle in Albany in June 2010.

Abilene Reporter-News

One could say that 3-year-old Marilynne "Mimi" Ivy was born to be in the Fort Griffin Fandangle.

Well, it might be a little more accurate to say that she was almost born in the Fandangle.

"She was definitely a Fandangle baby," said Mimi's mother, Ginny Ivy, with a laugh. "She was born the day after Fandangle four years ago. And I was in the show that year."

Mimi will turn 4 in two weeks.

The annual Fort Griffin Fandangle runs the last two full weekends in June. This year's performances begin today at the Prairie Theater and continue tomorrow and Saturday. The Fandangle also will be performed June 28-30.

Mimi was named after her great-grandmother Marilynne Myers, who was the musical's narrator for about 30 years. But Myers' role expanded beyond narrating: She inspired two more generations of family members to continue her Fandangle legacy.

Ginny Ivy said she was just a little older than Mimi is now when she began making summer trips from Dallas to Albany just to be in the show. Myers would keep Ginny Ivy every June, and when the Fandangle was done for the year, Ivy would return to Dallas.

Even after Myers' death in 1991, Ivy continues to be in the show and now is a permanent resident of Albany.

In addition to Ivy and daughter Mimi, son Luke, 8, and Ivy's husband, Paul, also take part in the Fandangle, with Paul carrying the American flag during the Fandangle parade.

"I was always excited about coming out to be a part of it," Ginny Ivy said.

And it isn't like the Ivys are a rarity in Albany. Many others in the small town have similar stories and experiences.

Ask just about anyone in Albany for a Fandangle story, and they'll either rattle off an experience about someone in their family who performed in the musical, know of someone, or have performed in the Fandangle themselves. It's still easy to find someone who stood eyeball to eyeball with the man who started it all, Robert Nail.

"It's funny, every time I'm up singing a song or one of the ladies are singing a song, I hear it more like I did growing up," said Lanham Martin, who is performing in this year's Fandangle. "I can still hear Cliff Teinert singing 'The Cowboy's Prayer,' and I hear the past stars, and I hear my mother. I think about the people we've lost over the years that either died or moved away. Just a lot of fond memories that I had growin' up."

Martin, who plays a major role in the Fandangle, is rumored to have perfect pitch. When asked if that was true, he downplayed his talents, although he did acknowledge that he knows every word to every song that has been performed in the play for the past 30 years.

Martin, 48, also acknowledged that it is getting a little more difficult to hit the high notes like he did in years past. That, and it's getting a little more difficult to jump on a horse.

"I used to ride a gray mare, and I was supposed to steal it," he said. "Every time the music would start, I should have been on the horse, but sometimes she'd take off whether I was on there or not. Every year, it gets a little bit harder to get on that horse. It does get a little tough."

When the day comes that it's too tough to ride or to hit the high notes, there's already another generation of Fandangle hopefuls waiting in the wings. It's been that way since the Fandangle got its start as "Dr. Shackelford's Paradise" in 1938.

Chloe Fields, 12, already is working her way up the musical chain and has been for the past 9 years. She's already been a saloon girl, a square dancer, and she loves to do the cancan.Asked why she enjoyed being in the Fandangle, Chloe replied, "I get to dance around with all of my friends and smile."